How To Get Killer Drum Sounds! Compression & EQ Secrets

[@Joormode]

Would love to see much more mixing videos on this channel, like you did on your main 5-6 years ago.

[@katielowen]

100% agreed; those are my fav of Rick's videos!

[@sarcophage]

Yes!!

[@GTORT]

His channel was a true hidden gem back then.

[@MichaelForbes-d4p]

Now he just says rediculous things to drive engagement.

[@hanbo123]

Rick's expression 6:07 , when the engineer is explaining the rack equipment. You better not mess up! 😎

[@lucasmedia1]

Exactly what I was thinking lool, Ricks eyes look like they're holding a gun to GL'S head haha

[@gerardporqueres6989]

I was thinking the same! When you say midrange what do you mean exactly? 👀 490 and 470Hz 😰

[@adrianosullivan7548]

Solid death glare for that poor fella's whole contribution

[@cwdrummercwc4128]

Hahaha!!!! Glad I wasn’t the only one who thought that 😂

[@compucorder64]

Yes, seemed like bad vibes from Rick. Don't think I'd want to be his engineer, to be honest.

[@andretonelli]

What a stunningly useful video, Rick! Whenever GL was falling into the common “a little bit of this and that, let’s move on” thing, the fact that you stopped to go deeper is where the gold really lies. Great job to both of course. And Greg!

[@three3fitty573]

Rick was giving a death stare😂

[@wootube]

We’re seeing Rick the taskmaster, but god damn, it made this a 100% more useful video than if he let GL just yadda yadda over the details!!

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

@@three3fitty573 Giving him the eagle eyes the whole time during the preamp part 😅

[@apexperfection619]

Rick please make more content like this. This is my favourite type of content from your channel. I know it may be a bit niche but this is killer. Keep up the great content

[@danjwalker]

Thank you for wrangling your friend in by making him explain the WHY! Great video as usual.

[@thetransonicford]

I agree with many others, it‘s great to see you getting back into the control room. More videos on production techniques, recording and mixing would be appreciated.

[@gtoger]

Thanks from a weekend warrior who employs a lot of the same techniques displayed here but can't always tell you WHY. It just seems to sound good. Love the educational stuff which helps me learn, reinforce or in some cases reconsider!

[@leaharrington4472]

The sound of the drums in the room IS the sound of the drums. Love this so much.

[@gropifiasco]

Thank you for showing us the sound of 25 years ago.

[@lostandfound5133]

Please tell us future man. What do you suggest?

[@gropifiasco]

@@lostandfound5133 to listen to your desires or to listen to today's music.

[@DelmaRaySmithJr]

The interaction of each individual involved colors the sound and the songs in a never ending churn, Rick is the personification of Art, as he demonstrates here without demonstration.

[@andrewpreciado7142]

Please Rick, please please please make more videos like this!

[@jayaraise]

More of this please. Just taking the time to explain the little details and show behind the curtain is so appreciated. Well done - thank ya much!

[@KhemBMD]

i really love how the room mics are what brought the kit to life. that was quite amazing to experience. the kit sounded good before but once the room mics were involved we were THERE

[@JoshuaStormmusic]

Thanks a bunch Rick & GL. This is a gold mine of a drum mixing tutorial. Crisp, clean and straight to the point. Thanks again.

[@MoreMeRecording]

Cool! Looking forward to more recording tutorials from Rick. I've been recording for several years but always have LOTS to learn!

[@veilleux931]

Just started at an audio school, learning how to record, mix, and everything else. This video was fascinating. Thank you Rick.

[@markusn840]

0⁰

[@brunopradomusic]

Yes. I want to see more content like this. Rick talks very little about the technical side of his producer career. Would be nice to see Rick mixing stuff as well. Thanks for everything you do for the music Rick

[@coastrider9673]

As a lifelong drummer and recordist, I have tried many different mic techniques. What I have found to be the best is a well tuned kit in a nice sounding room, recorded with only two mics, and no processing. The two mics are a figure eight ribbon and a cardioid condenser, in a coincident semi Blumlein M-S arrangement, placed just above the drummer's head; with the ribbon track then copied, phase flipped, and panned to create stereo.

[@genuinefreewilly5706]

Very helpful. Those small tweaks collectively make a huge difference. For sure please do more

[@anttisilventoinen6133]

Rick's eyes in the beginning! "You better not fudge up!" This was awesome! more stuff like this! I'm still trying to figure out my recording studio, and I need all the help I can get!

[@anttisilventoinen6133]

HOME recording studio, i should say.

[@pbrecipe2443]

i immediately ordered $5000 in microphones after watching this and it really did improve my sound!

[@checkedoff]

Don't forget the preamps

[@b3nji777]

Thanks so much Rick! The timing of this video was perfect. I have been tuning my drum room and setting up to record my 73 Pearl Dynabeat that I reconditioned (Fibreglass +concert toms). This video reassured me that the things that were bothering me in my small room were still present in your studio. I am in my 40's and I learned audio while working for my old man's jazz band in the 90's. I Started on an Atari St and it still amazes me till this day what we can do in the box with tried and true recording techniques. Big respect for all you do mate, cheers from Melbourne Au.

[@paulmoncton]

Very informative. It's great to have an explanation from mic placement to playback, and everything in between, in chronologic order. It makes others tutorials look amateur.

[@stratfanstl]

Great subtle tip. If you record the TOP and BOTTOM of a snare, reverse the phase of the mic of the BOTTOM to avoid the top and bottom signals being out of phase with each other and killing the attack.

[@austinhealey5158]

Hey Rick Yes more recording videos please

[@steelesaldutti]

I would love to see the same video on guitar tones: How to mic a cab, what speakers to use, how to dial in the amp, EQ and compression (probably in the box as most of us don’t have outboard, how many mics, condensers versus dynamic, what pickups / guitar etc

[@michaelshreve6455]

The rooms sound amazing with or without compression Thanks! I enjoyed that

[@thejonathandoan]

YES!! I was just thinking after watching the Greg Bissonette vid that the drums sounded absolutely EPIC!! Seriously amazing sound, and Greg is one of the coolest drummers of all time. I’d love to meet him someday, and Rick as well!! Thanks for sharing your setup with us, Rick!

[@lucasbrandao2901]

We were missing this mix vídeos rick!

[@michaelv.3655]

Great video Rick ! Thankfully you stopped your friend taking all the usual shortcuts while explaining and forced him to really explain the details. This was so helpful and I'd love to see more videos like this.

[@samchoate1719]

Love the simplicity of the mixing stage: shows how good of a sound you got on the way in. That’s the way!

[@rickbeato2]

Appreciate it!

[@mattcarrier5752]

This brings me back to the days at Tree Sound when we were just interns grabbing food and changing reels on the Studers. Congrats on the success Ken!

[@gressex7]

100% love this type of video. You be watched all the old recording ones but awesome to see this too. Can’t wait for more instruments/techniques!!

[@dantesebastian10]

Thank you for this video. In the details is the difference. Perfect video with no need of senseless bla. Top!

[@eDrumsInANutshell]

Ahh, that is like ASMR for me. I am a hobby metal/prog drummer and physicist and came to mixing through edrums and VST drumming. And I love these EQ curves, all that technical stuff connected to emotions in music. This is the second time I noticed a KUSH audio plugin used by a pro studio. I recently have seen a video on the channel of the creator of that plugins (The House of KUSH, Gregory Scott) about compression. And that was nice! Thanks for sharing this! Great!

[@Ponchy]

Looove to see the production videos back again!

[@sevchyk]

Excellent video. Every aspect of sound was elucidated. I have nothing to blame, the understanding of the public needs is at the high level. I've added it to my list.

[@dannyknox4314]

Yes! More mixing videos. Compression for the win!!!

[@shoreline4]

Very informative. We just finished mixing our debut album....or so we thought! Absolutely! Do more of these videos!

[@alexbooyse9053]

This is a great video. Explaining reasons for choices

[@welkerroad]

I love to see these types of videos. Thank you Rick for putting it together.

[@atomspliter3493]

This takes me back I was in a audio engineering school back in the nineties and these are for the most part the mic choices we used back in the day. Back then we had three studios which had a neve, SSL and a api consoles to choose from and we had old studer 2 inch 24 track machines to record to and mastered with dats. Cool video, takes me back.

[@fredrikio]

Much appreciated! Thank you so much for going into these kinda details and asking the questions re what/why.

[@soulsweet40]

I love this...this is right up my alley..more content like this please, along with everything else you do

[@fatbackfunk]

Fantastic! Like others have expressed, more of these mixing/tracking videos would be hugely appreciated! Love em'...!!!!

[@astrofreq]

Please make more videos of this type. I’ve recently starting taking mixing:mastering courses online and this is so incredibly helpful. 😊

[@mgt81music]

As a drummer and producer, I loved this.

[@JotaJohn]

AWESOME RICK!!!!!!! Please do more mixing videos

[@AlainHubert]

I did use a little eq in my recording setup, but no compression at all. Only well-placed and balanced quality drum microphones.

[@leevalasek9251]

Yes! Would like to see more content like this.

[@genecarroll879]

You're killn' me. I Love it! These are great. I'm sharing this with my band mates so they can understand what I'm doing and "what's taking so long" (ha ha) I'm a bass player and have been an engineer since '86. Started off all tape. Was one of the first Studer Dyaxis users and then we switched to PT 1 which was a two step process. 1) Sound Designer and 2) Editor Just love your stuff.

[@atulah7]

Excellent video. I have been flying(mixing) blind and learning(from my mistakes) as I go. There is so much good info here. Thank you!

[@Damo_Drummer]

As a long time drummer, I love this sort of content, Rick. More please! :)

[@outermarker5801]

Loved it, more please! If this kind of treatment is common practice it actually helps me understand why drums which sound awesome at lower volume are often the first thing that hurts my ears at higher volumes - collective added brightness/attack. Mind you that's just me - weirdly sensitive to everything from 2-5k, always was. I go running from loud rooms others seem perfectly comfortable around.

[@sr60030]

you're not alone haha but I have a very narrow spot at 11k then nothing above or below

[@TomGoss-qb9gx]

Yes yes yes, more like this. I’m a drummer setting up a space now. Super healthful!!

[@aleksamrkela831]

I love seeing the engineering side of Rick. Please make more of these videos!

[@markblagdon]

Loved this style video - really great to see and hear effect and thought behind why its being applied.

[@duxgarnifex3678]

This is awesome. Need know how with Distressors on rooms and side chains for big 80s Toms.

[@digableskillz]

Thank you so very much for this video! I’m a longtime musician just now getting into my own home studio recording environment with a thirst to learn as much is I can from seasoned professionals such as you guys. I’ve been subscribed to both channels for over a year or so and I’m very appreciative of your content. Thank you again 🙏🏾

[@TimV93]

Great video! I'd like to see some more content on outboard gear and mic'ing techniques for bass guitar and down-tuned guitars in hard rock music!

[@marcusbusborg1432]

More of this type of content please🙏🏻 Rick Rocks🤘🏻

[@jimhuddleston6227]

Fantastic, such a treat to watch and listen to high level professionalism and actually understand the value of this content !! Please continue producing this type of material. Thank you in advance.

[@HoRNetWeb]

Thank you for featuring our Tape MK2 analog tape simulator intros video! that's wonderful, I hope you are enjoying the plugin!

[@TomCawoski]

Great video Rick!!! I'm one of those who would love to see more content like this. You did a couple drum recording/mixing videos a while back but left out the EQ points that you were using for the toms. From this one, looks like you are using the same mic preamps and I'm so glad you didn't skip over the EQ points!!! I'm a drummer, engineer, producer, and mixer and these kinds of videos have been a great source of good information for me. I've been getting good drum sounds for the must part but for some reason I have been snuggling getting a great tom sound. I suspect a bit of my issue is related to the size of my room being too small. Anyway, I so appreciate your channels and encourage you to continue to make all the content you are doing. There's a lot of good content here and I appreciate what you do!!! Bless you Rick!!! 😎🎶

[@violao206]

Greg Keplinger is a musician pal of mine here in Seattle. We had sat in together at jam sessions here in Seattle. These recording technique videos are gold! Please keep them coming. =D

[@howsbrad]

Yes! More content like this! For example, What is the best all around mic pre for a home studio and how to use it.

[@zeevshaff]

More content!! I can watch this forever… just started adding room mics to my recordings and wow it makes the whole song.. keep it up rick love this type of video

[@Batsinthebelltower]

5:50 lol rick hanging over that rack like a vampire , hammer horror-esque great shot

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Love the mixing context especially from someone with Rick's credentials and not trying to sell me the latest plugin or gear.

[@andrewdavidweber1st]

It is so great to see you and Ken still working together :)

[@Jay-Go]

Yes! Yes! More of this. More videos showing what pros like yourselves do to get drum mixes.

[@guitarshredder1972]

Yes please, way more recording videos!

[@J0intV3nture]

This is exactly the video I've been waiting to see. Especially the EQ settings help a lot getting a baseline for my DAW

[@natdenchfield8061]

What !? This video was great! Rick, you seem to have a different like, side of you coming out in the studio - it's like seeing you proficient at a knowledge-based skill and you're just on it, focused. With your music-side videos, they're much more relaxed and conversational, but I really liked this one as a contrast. And GL is perfect for instructional videos like this too - just explains everything so simply and clearly. I hate to gush, but just going through the processes lke this with no youtube influencer style spin/opinion or chat and sticking to the point - with all the detail explained concisely at the right points (not having to recap or explain something later) - I think I absorbed much more info than I did with info from many other channels. Also, it's at a level for where I don't need to you to explain anything more so i worked for me (for example, someone might not know what a 'sub' was for a sub group etc) So yes - please continue with these ! The look of focus as you're listening to your tech speak so you can jump in on something, was great .. haha.

[@bazzzzz6175]

Fantastic. Loved this! Nice to see the same plug ins I use every day and knowing I'm using them correctly. Two years ago I didn't have a clue about this stuff.

[@createlovehappy]

Yes please more content like this. Maybe how to get a great drum track in a less than perfect room. My room was fairly big but had low ceilings and that made it very difficult to get room sounds because the bounce back was so close. The best I could do was use less mics. Kickball inside the kick, 57 on snare, rode K2 tube in cardiod as a single over head, and a pair of shiny box ribbon mics set up 3-4 feet in front of kit at about snare height in Blumlien set with capsules at 45 degrees instead of straight on. So the front of one was aimed at the floor tom and the other was aimed at the hi-hat.

[@ingramengineeringproaudio]

Yes, please, more videos like this showing how you recorded and mixed. Good stuff. The main video with Gregg was great, too.

[@DojoCuts]

I reckon getting a good drum sound in the room, keep the front reso on the kick, put soem half decent kick drum. mic in fron tof that about an inch away near the edge. Get a SM57 & put it under the hats point up at the drummers kneee, get another 57 (or predecessor unidyne) and use that as a close mic on top of snare totaste. Done!

[@DojoCuts]

Seriously, check our drum sound. You dont need heaps of expensive gear. The most impoortant thign is a good drummer.

[@BenCoultryAfishall]

Man this always makes me appreciate using multisampled drums rather than a kit - it's waaaay too much stuff both to cart around and to fuss with

[@HarrieArtGlass]

Love the "Death Stare" when you throw it to GL.

[@bobbyd88]

I would be very interested in seeing more of this kind of content. I'm just starting to record at home and this was very informative. Thank you.

[@mark-ze4en]

Smart, getting back to your original video series recording and mixing, composition and theory

[@HomeStudioRescue]

LOVE IT! I remember hearing Shinedown and wanting to know what recorded that.

[@luxuriousfir]

I absolutely love a live room for drums! Concrete floor with concrete walls equals 💥!!!!!

[@m2thef2thec]

Top video, Rick. A great example of "less is more". I need to strip back some of my mixes and get back to basics!

[@eweesplace]

Giving the people what they want! Excellent, Rick. Thanks ❤

[@Willsonix]

Great to see some micing and recording techniques. Would like to see more please, plus editing, production, mixing and mastering if you want to show the whole process.

[@braedenlane]

Really cool to see JV’s Silencer on there. Awesome gate.

[@nathanwalsh3028]

I still have the modern drummer from 1983 Alex Van Halen issue with greg's picture in an ad and he slightly bald. Yes He had hair work, and it lists him playing for the maynard ferguson jazz band. Then I remember him joining Dave's band and being like Wow that's the same dude!! He was a hell of a player then and he still one monster on the drums today!!

[@johnforguites4800]

yes! the recording videos are what attracted me to your channel originally

[@MrG1275]

Yes I would love to see more of this type of videos.

[@JeremyJoyce]

This is great guys, highly appreciated!

[@aliasbandfanclub3357]

great video Rick. Back in 1990 after the band SHERIFF broke up in 1995 then ended up with a hit with WHEN I'M WITH YOU. Singer Fred Curci, guitarist Steve DeMarchi and keyboard player Denny DeMarchi built a studio in the basement where they recorded the debut ALIAS album which had the hit MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY... Original recordings all done out of the basement with Freddy singing in a clothes closet

[@lgl_137noname6]

Yes Please. more content like this would quite educational . thank you.

[@jeramym9506]

Love this video. So helpful for folks like me. Would love to see a video on microphone choice.

[@joshalbert3636]

This is great! as drummer myself getting into mixing THIS is the content! Thank Rick!

[@UdiKoomran]

An point almost always ignored is were to place the drum kit in the room - were does the kit and the room ( especially the low end ) interact best. Same actually goes for any other instrument. Moving the source by a feet can dramatically sound different and placing it in the right soot will ensure optimal response and then will require much less processing And its quite an easy task to fulfill

[@philneedham508]

appreciate the info. I'm setting up to record my set through Pro tools and am amassing as much good intel as I can get.

[@lewybody]

Thanks for this very concise, clear and distinctly helpful summary of your drum method for Greg B's playing. Super useful for me in a small home studio, but using a full acoustic kit. Especially with your context of why you use particular bands for EQ on individual elements, compression rationale, etc. If you could do more like this, it'd be awesome! Thanks for all your content over the many years, Mr. Beato. You're making a profound difference to many.

[@ChristoperZann]

Rick absolutely more videos like this! As a producer I have hired and mixed Larrie Londin, Eddie Bayers, Michael Bland, Russ Kunkel, Petar Janzic (Cory Wong), Noah Levy (Frampton), and recently Brian Dunne (Daryl's House & H&O). My longtime mentors Norbert Putnam and Tom Tucker Sr. (Prince, Greg Brown, Johnny Lang) taught me three valuable things. Hire killer sessions cats live & drink coffee and let the band produce, turn the knobs til it sounds right (Norbert Putnam), and the art of the 12 hour mix (Tom Tucker Sr.). I actually do almost everything in this video, but now I'm going to remix several tracks primarily to use Smack Attack. My go to plugins are API 55OA, CLA3, and Abbey Road Emulation or SSL on the Master Bus plus Waves Phase on the final output and anything musical in Waves. I have the everything Waves subscript but with the great players I use? I go with Norbert- "The drums define the record- hire the great ones, and track live whole band as much as possible. My bass players with these drummers have included Lee Sklar, Joe Osborn, Sonny T. (Prince, Chaka) Bob Glaub, St. Paul Peterson, Dave Hungate, Norbert Putnam, Billy Franze (Mavis, Johhny Lang) and {bravely) myself after being schooled by Mike Porcaro when we were both 20 in Hotel rooms... We should talk... Best, Zannman